Beating the blues with a cruise
By Malcolm Rogers
While the cruise industry creates more and more large ships, experienced
cruise-goers in Britain and Ireland may turn their back on these floating
leisure playgrounds in favour of smaller ships, predicts cruise guru Douglas
Ward in the 2007 Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships,
the cruising world’s bible, published this month.
The author Douglas Ward, with 950 cruises under his buoyancy belt, is
the world’s most highly-regarded expert on cruising. His definitive
annual guide, now in its 22nd year of publication, is the only independent
source of star ratings for ocean-going cruise ships worldwide.
According to Ward, in 2007 some 27 ships over 100,000 tonnes will be
in service, the largest Freedom of the Seas which debuted in May 2006
with 4,370 passengers.
But if that’s not big enough for you, in 2009 this ship will be
topped by Royal Caribbean International’s Project Genesis which,
at 1,818 ft, will hold an astonishing 6,400 passengers.
However Ward warns that being aboard these vast ships is like being
in a large shopping mall and that while the ships have grown larger the
space per passenger has not.
Commenting on the myth that bigger is better Ward says: “A major
concern is the availability of ports with the infrastructure that can
support the invasion of such huge numbers. We are already finding that
experienced cruise-goers are choosing smaller ships in order to avoid
the long lines and the somewhat sanitised experience of the large vessels.”
With a record 276 cruise ships reviewed in exhaustive detail and packed
with sound advice such as how to get the best value for money, the 2007
Berlitz guide provides essential information for anyone considering a
cruise.
Virtually every ocean-going cruise vessel is independently profiled,
from large to small, from unabashed luxury and exclusivity to ships for
the budget-minded, new and old.
Sea sickness — Ward’s whinges
Among Douglas Ward’s gripes are the resort ships that travel by
night and remain in port during the day, providing little connection to
nature and the sea — they are in effect small towns designed to
keep passengers spending money on board.
Also criticised are the tired entertainment shows; aggressive cruise
directors who invade privacy through the public address system and the
homogenous accommodation provided by identically-sized cabins.
Many cruise lines fail to provide a nautical experience and are mistaken
in thinking they are in the hotel business.
Ward criticises passengers being called guests, cabins being rooms and
decks being floors. There are 30 more Pet Peeves, from skimpy towels to
cold plates for hot food.
The best — and the worst
Helping customers to avoid expensive pitfalls are in-depth reviews of
276 cruise ships. They range from the poorest, American Eagle (“extremely
expensive for what you get — food is very disappointing”)
— to the absolute best, Europa.
This luxury Hapag-Lloyd ship is literally in a class of its own.
So impeccable is the ship’s performance that Ward created a new
class for it, Five-Stars-Plus, in which it is the sole occupant for 2007.
Of the well-known Big Seven Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises comes out
with both the Best Overall Food Score and Best Overall Service Score.
What’s new in cruising?
Three-class cruising is back
Exclusive areas are available to those willing to pay extra. So you
can have your own private box in the show lounge (Queen Victoria), book
a spa suite (Costa Serena) or a villa with a private garden (Norwegian
Jewel).
Innovating to keep ahead of the competition
With the competition so intense, cruise ships are constantly trying
to woo passengers with their novelty.
Now you can announce your engagement on a ship’s big screen, ride
the waves thanks to the first onboard surf park (Freedom of the Seas),
try your hand at boxing in a dedicated boxing ring (Pride of Aloha), go
ice-skating (Voyager of the Seas) or 10-pin bowling (Norwegian Pearl).
Shopping and malls
There is a huge growth area in onboard enhancement items purchased on-line
from the major cruise lines. Items such as premium quality mattresses,
bed linen, wooden deck lounge (steamer) chairs, ship posters and memorabilia
are all for sale.
Trend for longer cruises
Ward predicts that more people will choose to live permanently aboard
a ship after retirement. It could have its advantages — at least
the relatives can’t pop round.
Several cruise lines have recently enjoyed double-digit growth in cruise
bookings longer than 14 days and lines are expected to offer cruises of
at least a month.
Phoenix Reisen for example ingeniously offers a mix-and-match combination
of up to three vessels on an around the world cruise.
Frantic upgrading of beds
Cruise lines, not just the luxury ones, are frantically changing beds,
installing “better sleep” mattresses and upgrading linen to
enable guests to sleep better after long, active days ashore.
Computers on tap
Computers link almost all functions aboard the latest ships. Interactive
TV systems allow you to order wine, arrange shore excursions, play casino
games, and order pay-per-view movies, all from your cabin. Wi-fi is now
aboard most large resort ships and for a price you can send and receive
e-mails and surf the net.
Spas flex their muscles
Body pampering spas are among the hottest revenue-raising facilities
at sea, with increasing areas being devoted to spas. Costa Concordia has
21,000 sq. metres of space.
The Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2007 (£16.99,
696 pages) www.berlitzpublishing.com
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